The Best DIY Advent Calendars for Kids
Fill-it-Yourself Advent Calendars for Kids that will Bring Extra Magic to Your Holiday Season
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If a DIY advent calendar isn’t for you, check out my favorite pre-filled advent calendars.
Advent Calendars
Large Leather Advent Calendar
This is the advent calendar my family uses. I managed to get my hands on one last year after trying for more than a year. It sells out fast, so if it’s on your mind, don’t wait!
Standing House Advent Calendar
This advent calendar is perfect if you don’t have wall space to hang one!
Festive Friends Advent Calendar
This whimsical advent calendar will bring the cheer to your December.
Big Felt Advent Calendar
I love this advent calendar! It uses metal loops for you to hang gift bags or boxes from each day.
Classic Santa Felt Personalized Advent Calendar
A festive and classic advent calendar that kids are sure to love.
Personalized Fabric Advent Calendar
This handmade advent calendar option won’t fight with your home decor.
Advent Calendar Fillers
Most of my favorite advent calendar fillers are listed in my Amazon Storefront.
Christmas Books
Every year I put our Christmas books away with our holiday decorations and love bringing them back out as an advent calendar gift. I wrap up our old books and add a few new ones to our collection.
Christmas Activities
There are so many fun activities around the holiday, I love to add a few as advent calendar surprises. Check out what activities are available near you. Here are some ideas: Drive around to see the lights in ne
- Drive around to see the lights in nearby neighborhoods
- Zoo lights
- Light shows
- Ice skating
- Holiday markets
- Going to meet Santa
Christmas Decorating
Here’s another one I spread throughout the advent calendar. We decorate the kids rooms with holiday sheets, blankets, and Christmas pillows. Each kid gets their own tiny tree with ornaments that can’t break. Our older daughter loves to help us put up Christmas lights and decorate our own tree. We also love this felt Christmas tree that the kids can decorate all month long.
Christmas Baking
There’s nothing better than creating an advent calendar surprise out of something you need to do anyway. That’s where baking comes in. Have the kids help with cookie baking and decorating. Make puppy chow. Whatever baking you were planning on doing, let the kids in on it – they’ll be thrilled.
Christmas Crafts
Keep them happy and entertained with this advent calendar filler idea. Tons of great craft projects are listed in my Amazon Storefront. We also love the Mondo Llama crafts from Target.
Christmas Clothes
The best part of gifting Christmas clothes in an advent calendar is that you don’t have to think about the outfit for that day, it’s ready for you! I also LOVE a matching family pajamas moment. Great sources for Christmas clothes and Jammies include:
- Next
- June + Grey (Sell out Risk!)
- Hanna Andersson
- Monica + Andy
Christmas Giving
Teach your kids the true meaning of Christmas by gifting them the opportunity to give back. Have them give a gift to a recipient of their choice (a neighbor, a friend, the Amazon driver…), bake dog biscuits for a local shelter, send Christmas cards to soldiers, adopt a family, or volunteer.
I have so many more ideas in my FREE Advent Calendar Guide. Download yours!
I’d love to hear how you fill your kids’ advent calendars. Let me know in the comments below!
